Welcome to 125 Group

A warm welcome to 125 Group, especially if you have come here after seeing us on TV! We are the High Speed Train Inter-City 125 enthusiast and preservation group, formed in 1994 by a small band of enthusiasts with the aim of sharing news and information on the fleet. Our objective is to preserve a production HST powered by the original Valenta engine, to this end we have acquired a large number of major components. Through this work and our restoration of 41001 we have developed a good relationship with the railway industry and grown to over 400 members. We have recently become a registered charity and are delighted to have 125 designer Sir Kenneth Grange as our Honorary President.

125 Group took the last surviving prototype HST power car 41001 on long term loan from the National Railway Museum in 2012 and under the ‘Project Miller’ banner, in honour of the BR Chief Engineer behind the original HST, we restored it from a static exhibit to full working order for use on preserved railways. In recognition of this we were pleased to be presented with the Railway Heritage Committee 2014 Modern Traction Award. Thanks to our benefactors, volunteers and the kind help of the railway industry, 41001 is now a regular performer at its home base the Great Central Railway (Nottingham). 125 Group is owner of three Mk3 coaches, which we have repainted in matching livery, hauled by 41001 recreating the look of the Prototype HST. Our team of twenty active volunteers maintain and operate the train, including a buffet bar serving drinks and delicious hot food prepared on-board.

Join Us! We are delighted to welcome new members who are interested in HSTs and wish to support our cause. Members exclusively receive our quarterly magazine ‘One Two Five’ which is packed with news stories about current mainline operations and detailed behind the scenes information on our preservation progress. Join now on this website, membership is only £17 for 12 months.

New Hitachi IEP units are being built and tested NOW, with introduction planned next year. Some HST withdrawals are very likely in the near future and 125 Group is ready to step in and save at least one power car from the scrapyard. We have launched our ‘Direct Debit’ scheme to help boost our preservation funds, donate from £5 per month and receive free subscription to 125 Group.